The hugely anticipated SkyVenture Milton-Keynes UK (Airkix) opened its doors to the public on Saturday 22nd October 2005 after many months of preparation and hard work. Managing Director and major shareholder Simon Ward said that although some of the aesthetic aspects of the facility were still to be completed, the tunnel itself was working “like a dream” and “we’re ready to do business.”

Airkix, part of the Xscape facility is located in the center of Milton Keynes just north of London U.K. The Xscape building boasts a range of different amenities with rock climbing and skiing tuition and a range of stores and restaurants.

Simon’s team of instructors was well prepared to begin business as soon as possible, with 4 instructors that had completed the FITP course and had undergone 2 months of apprenticeship at SkyVenture Orlando. Once the green light had been given for operations to commence, IBA trainers Joe Winters and Rusty Lewis traveled to Milton Keynes to complete the second phase of the FITP course with the remaining 6 instructors on the Airkix team.

The SkyVenture LLC team completed the commissioning process with the usual airflow characteristics tests concluding with first class results for their first re-circulating design of their ever popular vertical wind tunnels. Tests have shown the re-circulating model to be possibly the most efficient wind tunnel built, with the 4 fan design producing 1000 hp and winds in excess of 150 mph. The re-circulating airflow allows for temperature controlled environment inside the flight chamber allowing the facility to operate regardless of the outside air temperature.

Business at the new attraction seemed positively high during the opening weeks, with a variety of different press and media interest which is contributing to the high volume of tourist business. Airkix is also hosting a range of different tunnel camps with world class coaches to encourage business from the skydiving market.